Packing structure and method of making same



Sept, 36,. i924.

J. A. zuBLlN PACKING'.S'I'RUCTI'JRE AND METHOD OF MAKING SVAME- misa Feb, 9. 1923 2 Shinn-sunt 1 I N VEN TOR.

BY Mm TWTORNEM Sept. 30 1924. 1,510,073 l J; A. zuB|.|N x

PACKING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Fixed-'Feu 9, l1922 f shun-shut 2 INVENTOR.

BY w HTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

JOHN A. ZUBLIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFGRNIA.

PACKING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed February 9, 1923. Serial No. 617,902.

To aZZ- w 710m t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. ZUBLIN, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Packing Structure and Method of Making Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to an improved type of packing structure which is particularly adapted for use as a piston or pump plunger' packing, and to a method of making same.

The invention has for an object lto provide an expansible tubular packing structure which is longitudinally slit to form a series of co-engaging blades or sections with the several slits normally closed and so disposed as'to remain closed throughout their length during expansion orcontraction of the structure.

Another object is to provide an expansible tubular packing structure which is longitudinally slit from one end inwardly at circularly spaced intervals to form a series of yielding blades, with the' slits normally closed and angled transversely in `respective planes out of registry with the axis of the structure whereby the several blades remain in coengagement during the yielding` movements of the structure.

A'further object is to provide a method of making a packing' structure of the above character. i

Various other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosure, and which illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of the invention. i

Of the drawings:

Figure l is a central Vertical' sect-ion through a well pump structure with the packing structure of the present invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is an elevation of a piece of material longitudinally slit in accordance with the first step in the herein described method.

Figure 3 is a plan section on line 3 3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a section of reduced size and similar to Figure showing the slitting of a piece of material which is normally tubular, instead ofl'solid as in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to Figure 2, showing the slits closed in accordance with the second step in the herein described method. l

Figure 6 is a plan section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure T is an elevation, partly broken away and in section and looking-in the direction of the arrow in Figure 8, illustrating the third step in the herein described method'.

Figure S is a plan section on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevation, partly broken away and in section and taken approximately on line 9-9 of Figure 10, illustrating the fourth step in' the herein described method.

Figure 10 is a plan section of the finished packing member, taken on line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 1l is an elevation, partly broken away and in` section, showing a modified form of packing structure.

Figure 12 is a plan section on line 12-12 of Figure 11. v

Figure 18 is a vertical section showinga packing structure of the type to which this invention relates, as applied to an engine piston, and

Figure 14 is a plan section on line 14E-14 of Figure 13.

Referring to Figure 1, the packing structure is shown incorporated in a iiuid pump in which 1 designates a pump tubing or working barrel in which the pump operates, and 2 designates a usual type of standing valve, the pump comprising a sucker rod section 3 and a garbutt rod pipe t joined together by a guide member 5, the pipe 4 being connected to the lower end of the standard sucker rod string 6. The rod section 3 and guide member 5 are bored to receive the garbutt rod 7 which is attached to the standing valve cage, and the upper end of the garbutt rod extends into the garbutt rod pipe et and has attached to its upper end a garbutt nut 8. The lower end of the rod section 3 has a valve element 9 which is adapted to cooperate vwith a valve seat 10 formed at the lower end of the packing structure member 11, which in this instance, constitutes the pump plunger.

This arrangement permits the sucker rod line to have an initial independent movement during which the valve iirst operates to control the passage of fluid through the plunger, and is then moved to translate the plunger. 4In the operation of this type olE pump, an initial down stroke oli the rod tirst effects an opening ot the valve 9, the guide member 5 then contacting)` the upper end of the tubular packing` structure member 'l1 and translating it to the end of the down stroke. Upon the tip-stroke the. initial movement of the rod-effects a closing of the valve 9 and upon a continued movement oli the rod translates the ymember 11 in a pumping stroke. The garbutt rod device permits a free pumping stroke and when the pump rod is pulled beyond the pumping stroke in pulling the pump, said device effects a pulling of the standing valve.

This type of pump forms the subject matter "of my copending' application, Serial Number (510,808, titled Pump 'and garbutt device, to which reference may be had for a more detailed illustration and description of the details of construction 'and operation.

The packing structure to which the present invention relates, comprises the tubular packing member 11 which is lonferitudinallyv slit from one end inwardly as indicated, at 1Q (see particularly Figures 1 and 10) and at circ-ularly space-d intervals to form a 'series of relatively spaced blades 13 and intermediate blades 132L cooperating with lthe spaced blades 13 to maintain a complete circular packing surface.

In certain instances it is desirable to associate with the' packing,r member 11, an inner flexible sealing member 14 which consists 'of relatively thin 'flexible sleeve positioned between an internal shoulder 15 and an internal shoulder 1'6 'loc-ated below the lower ends of the several slits 12. This sleeve 14 is preferably formed ol' a flat piece of sheet metal rolled upon itself with its free 'edges overlapping, and provides a` sealing member capable of expanding under the influence of the pressure of the liquid within th'e 'pump plunger and will in turn press outwardly the several blades 13-13a, whereby said blades engage the walls ot the pump tubing with a pressure which will vary with the pressure ot the tluid packed against.

As plainly shown in Figures 1 to 10 the packing` member 11 is slit to provide six cooperatingT blades with each slit transversely 'angled relative toits radial disposition, that is, the transverse plane oleach slit is out ol registry with the axis of the packing 'structiire as a whole. In `other words, the transverse plane ot each slit is to one side of said axis as distinguished from a plane which intersects said axis.

It will be noted that the successive slits are r'eversely angled and that each longitudinal edge of the several blades corresp'ond to that ol the co-faiigagiiigedge ot the adjacent blade so that during the exof the structure .said longitudinal edges wi slide upon cach other without causing; a separation of the slits.

lVhile the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 is slit to provide six blades, it will be evident from an examination of Figures 12 and 1l that it may be slit to provide eight, ten or various other numbers olf blades.

A packing structure of the general type thus far described is fully illustrated and described in my 'copendinpr application Serial Number 594,193, titled Packing structure, 'to which reference may be had if desired.

In the present invention the seveml slits are closed throughout their length so as lo provide a packing structure having a` maximum packing' elliciency, especially under heavy pressures.

The preferred method of making a packing structure of this nat-ure having closed slits, consists of longitudinally slitting a piece of material A, of suitable length, tuoni one end inwardly and at circularly spaced intervals as illustrated in Figures 2 and il, to form a series of circularly spaced blades lil, which are. sector shape in cross-section and have a cross-sectional area less than one-half that of the piece and with 'the slits defining the chord ol' the sectors. The successive slits are alternately angled transversely so as to be disposed on opposite sides ot' the longitudinal axis of the piece and the' several slits extend a. considerable distance inwardly sous to provide relative long blades.

The next step in the method is illustrated in Figures 5 and (3, and consists of closing the slits. This is preferably accomplished by swaging the blades 13 inwardly at the zone B near the base of the blades. lVhen the structure is constructed of relatively soft ductile material which is susceptible of swaging in a` cold state, the suntginp,r is accomplished without heating the piece. but when constructed of harder material, such as tor instance steel, it is proposed to irst locally heat each blade at the '/.one B and Swage said blade inwardly while hot.

Such swan'ing ot the blades 13 closes the slits throughout their length, as shown.

The piece is now to be bored and turned` and in accomplishiupr this it is preferable to lirst form the central bore. ln preparation for this operation a clamp rino L() (see Fig;- ures 7 and S) having' an internal diameter to closely lit the external diameter of tlul piece A, is slid on said piece and set screws :El carried by said ring' clamp the respective blades 1? so that the blades will be lirml'v held against displacement duringr the boring; operation. lit-h the blades 15% so clamped in place. the piece is bored and linishcd onr the inside, and in the particular torni of structure shown, the lower end is turned and lll() the mlve seat l() formed, and the piece is undercut to forni the opposed internal shoulders 15 and lli. 'lhe upper end of the piece, including the blades 13, is turned to provide a lip 23 having an outer tapered surface 2a. It will be noted that the bore intersects the several slits so as to form the intermediate blades 13a, with each of such intermediate blades positioned between two of the spaced blades 13. rlhus there is formed a plurality of yielding blades with their cooperating longitudinal edges having a permanent sliding engagement upon each other, this providing a structure having a complete circular exterior packing surface and at the same time providing a structure capable of expanding or contracting.

The piece is now turned and finished on the outsideA and in preparation for this operation the ring 2O is removed and the piece is preferably mounted as illustrated in Figure 9. This particular mounting permits the piece vto be readily chucked in a lathe for turningy and consists of a center rod 25 having at one end a cone collar 26 against which the seat l0 of the piece engages and is cen- Atered, and having its opposite end threaded. Screwed upon such threaded end is a collar 27 which has a slightly tapered hub portion 28 and a tapered bead 29 surrounding said hub. This collar serves to clamp the several blades clamped rigidly-together during the turning of the piece, the hub V portion 28 being of a diameter to closely lit into the upper end of the bore when the slits are closed and the tapered bead 29 being of proper diameter so that the lip 23 of the piece engaging into the tapered throat 30 of the collar 27 will effect a rigid clamping together' of the several blades.

The piece is now turned to gauge and otherwise iinished on the outside as shown in Figures 9 and l0, after which the lip 23 may be turned off.

l/Vhile the above described steps of the method are followed in the making of the structure from a solid piece of material, it will be readily understood that such a structure may be made of a piece of tubing or other piece of material which is normally hollow. In making the structure from a piece of tubing, the tubing will be slit as illustrated in Figure 4c, after which the step of swaging inwardly the blades 13C, as above described, is followed to close the slits 12a. rlhe tubular piece is then finished on the inside, if such finishing is required, and then turned to gauge, in the same manner as above described.

In Figures 11 and 12 there is illustrated a packing structure of the same general type as above described, and which combines opposed packing structures 11b and Il d for use as a pump, compressor, or engine piston.

In Figures lo and 14 I have illustrated an engine piston of the general forni usual in explosive engines, and in which is incorporated a packing structure of the general character herein referred to In this adaptation of the packing structure, the tubular packing member lla is slit from its upper end as at 12c and at circularly spaced intervals in the same general manner as the previously described structures, to `form a series of yielding blades, in this instance there being ten blades. rIhe bore of the member 1la has a tapered portion 35 and a threaded portion 36, adapting said member to be screwed upon the piston shell 37 with the tapered portion engaging a correspondingly tapered surface of said piston shell to form a gas tight joint.

It is particularly emphasized that the feature ofmajor importance is the provision of a packing structure of this character in which the several slits are closed throughout their length, and in the method of closing the slits and then machiningl the structure to gauge, and while the structures and method of making as herein illustrated and described are fully adapted to fulfill all of the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specilic form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of einbodiment in various other forms, all coming within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l, An eXpansible packing structure comprising a tubular member longitudinally slit from one end inwardly and at circularly spaced intervals to form a series of blades, the several slits being closed throughout their length and transversely angled, whereby each blade throughout its length has a permanent coengagement with the adjacent blades.

2. An expansible packing structure coinprising a tubular member longitudinally slit from onel end inwardly and at circ-ularly spaced intervals to form a series of blades, the several slits being clos-ed throughout their length and the successive slits being oppositely angled transversely, whereby each blade throughout its length has a permanent coengage-ment with the adjacent blades.

8. in expansible packing structure comprising a tubular member longitudinally slit from one end inwardly and'at circularly spaced intervals to form a series of yielding blades, each alternate blade having opposite longitudinal edges transversely converging outwardly and the intermediate blades having opposite longitudinal edges transversely disposed to correspond to those of the adjacent blades, the several slits being closed throughout their length to maintain the blades in permanent coengagement.

4. An expansible packing structure comprising a tubular member longitudinally slit at circularly spaced intervals to t'orm a series ot yielding blades, the several slits being closed throughout their length and the coengaging longitudinal edges ot the several blades being angled transversely whereby the several slits remain closed during the expanding or contracting movements ot the structure.

v5. In a method of forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting of longitudinally slitting through the wall of Vahollow; piece of material from one end inwardly and at circularly spaced intervals in transverse planes out ot registry with the axis ot said structure to from a series ot' blades, closing the several slits to bring the blades into cooperative engagement, and subsequently turning the piece to gauge.

G. In a method ot forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting ot longitudinally slitting through the wall ot a. hollow piece ot material trom one end inwardly and at circularly spaced intervals in transverse planes out ot' registry with the axis ot' said structure to torm a series of blades, swaging the alternate blades at their bases to close the several slits, and subsequently turning the piece to gauge.

7. In a method ot forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting of longitudinally slitting through the wall of ay hollow piece ot material from one end inwardly and at circularly spa-ced intervals in transverse planes out of registry with the axis ot' said struetureto form a series ot blades, heating the piece at the base of the blades, swaging the piece while hot to close the several slits, and subsequently turning the piece to gauge.

8. In a method ot' forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting ot longitudinally slitting through thel wall of a hollow piece ot material from one end inwardly and at circularly spaced intervals, with the s'urcessive slits oppnA sitely angled transversely and forming a series ot' blades, closing the several slits, and subsequently turning the piece to gauge 9. In a method of forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting ot longitudinally slitting through the wall of a hollow piece ot material trom one end inwardly and at circularly spaced iutervals, with the successive slits oppositcly angled transversely and forming a series ot blades, heating the piece near the base ot the blades, swaging the piece while hot to close the several slits, and subsequently turning the piece to gauge.

l0. In a method ot forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting ot longitudinally slitting a piece of: tubing from one end in 7ardly and at circularly spaced intervals to form a series of blades, swaging the tube in the legion of the base of the blades to close the several slits and bring the several blades into Cooperative engagement, and subsequently turning the tube to gauge.

1l. In a method ot forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps consisting ot longitudinally slitting a piece ot tubing from one end inwardly and at circularly spaced intervals to form a series ot blades, beating the tube near the base ot the several blades, swaging the tube while hot to close the several slits and bringr the several blades into coolwrative4 engnlgement, and subsequently turningr the tube lo gauge.

l2. In a method ot' forming a cylindrical expansible packing structure, the steps cousisting of longitluliually slitting the wall of a tubular piece ot' material at circularly spaced intervals to form a series of sections, closing the several slits to bring the sections inte cooperative engagement, and subsequently turning the piece to gauge.

Signed at Los Angeles, California this 3rd day ot February 1923.

JOHN A. ZUBLIN. 

